There are a lot of great places to hike between Mono Lake and Lone Pine. The two I like are South Lake to Bishop Lake or Pass, you make the decision. With a loop back through Ruwau Lake, bagging Chocolate Peak along the way. This hike is just a smidgen less beautiful than LLV. The other is Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass and one of the most beautiful vistas in all the Sierra.
To Bishop Lake, there is no exposure to speak of. However, this early in the year there maybe snow bridge across some of the outlet streams, therefore, it best to have an early start when they are still frozen.
Both are in the 12-mile RT, +2,500' range.
